Tendangan Sila in the Sixth

Guru Ed did not come for training last Monday night. Probably down with a fever, or a flu bug. Anyway, I get to train with the other students doing the empty hands.

We revised five Buahs tonight, repeatedly. Still a lot to be done. All of us have to train harder to get better at this art. After doing those revision throught the training session, Guru Jak ask us to show him our moves, one by one, with a partner. I was the first to demonstrate and immediately he told me that I was too slow. Yes, I agree. Well, if I lived my whole life doing things slowly, and moving slowly, how can I be fast in Silat? I have to train myself to move faster. Silat is supposed to be done in blinding speed. Lightning speed! Remember Si Kilat? One of the many theories of the origin of the word Silat.

Before the class is over, Guru Jak showed us Buah Enam, or the Sixth Buah. Yes, he showed me previously. The others were not around at that time. Did I mentioned that this used to be my favourite Buah, but somehow, it got lost from my memory bank? It was slightly different last time. The approach was different, hence, the application.

One thing Guru Jak mentioned about this Buah, that I wanted to take note is the Tendangan Sila. Sila comes from the word Bersila, which describes how the Malays sit on the floor cross-legged. .

This Tendangan Sila is one tricky kick that the receiver will find it hard to determine where it came from and where it is going. According to Guru, this kick is similar to a kind of kick used by Tae Kwon Do practitioners, only not as fancy. The application in this Buah is very short and don't look very impactful but target is a quick delivery to the groin, which explains why it does not have to be so hard in its execution.

We ended our class after a few rounds of trying this Buah Enam, and quickly headed to a food court in 223 PJ for a light supper, which I had my nasi lemak, otak-otak and Iced Neslo O Kosong.

Image via Wikipedia

Salam

Elbow Techniques in Silat

Earlier during the day, I was casually going through Youtube not really looking for anything. However, I stumbled into an interesting find, and I find it worthy to be kept as a reference for personal study and to share with you.

Below is a video of elbow techniques as taught in the Cikalong Silat system, demonstrated by Guru Bambang Suwanda and Guru Bobbe. I find it interesting because of the variety of techniques and applications of the elbow alone. I can say that there are much similarity to the elbow techniques and applications that I have learnt in the Harimau Berantai system, eventhough the entries are not as similar.



I hope, together, we can benefit and progress in our Silat studies from the efforts of our Silat brothers who created and shared this precious video.

Salam.

Weapons From The 'Other' Side

Last Monday night training, Guru Ed and I started our training with our Belati Buahs. Quick revisions on all eight, each of us did two rounds.

No Sauh training that night. Instead, we did our 5 Buahs of Sakti Pencawangan throughout the remaining session. I did not know why, but I felt really sleepy during training. Probably, I was getting flu, but sore throat was the only other symptom besides fatigue.

Before we end our session, Guru Jak showed us a new Buah, the Sakti Pencawangan sixth Buah. Impressive as the others, only that, I being much vertically challenged when put against Guru Ed, I think I do have to adjust some moves a bit to compensate my lack of height advantage. Despite the fatigue, we tried on this new Buah for about five minutes.

After class, Guru Jak unveiled to us some old weapons, several variations of the Tumbuk Lada. They looked gorgeous I would say, their Pamor, the pattern welding work, one is called the 'Tapak Gajah', which translated as, Elephants Footprints, while the other takes another pattern, called Pucuk Rebung which translated, as Young Bambooshoots. Simply beautiful piece of work they are. There were another two, both of which looked like a combination of a Keris and a Tumbuk Lada. This is due to their forms, which displayed characteristics of the Keris, curves at the end of the blade and I also saw what looked like the Belalai Gajah, or the Elephant's Trunk, a common characteristic of a Keris, at the other end of the Tumbuk Lada. Within these two interesting Tumbuk Lada, I could also see that there are a smaller Keris within their core body. Simply amazing.

I asked Guru Jak how do we use these weapons. According to him, it is used as how we use our Belati. He also told us that, these weapons, two of the earlier mentioned, came from the 'other' side, and needed to go through a process of orientation or familiarization before they are ready to be used for whatever purposes on 'this' side.

Wallahualam. God knows Best.

After class, went out for a quick supper, some bee hoon soup and two glasses of hot lime tea. Having them with a good company, a good chat, and receiving my first ever Christmas gift, certainly satisfied the tummy, soothed the throat, the fatigue miraculously disappeared, and not to mention, warmed the heart too.

Salam.

A Story by Jack, Not Guru Jak

Today, I came across a story  titled My Special Child by a writer named Jack, in the Starmag, Heart & Soul section of The Star newspaper. It tells me about Jack, a parent who remembers the moment when his daughter who has Down Syndrom was born, how he felt, and how he reacted.  Anger, disgust, frustration, clueless, mixed in a myriad of emotions that suddenly came gushing in, not long after the Doctor told him of her condition, describing her newborn baby as a bit 'Mongoloid'. What a word to describe a newborn baby. A word that hurt him so much.

According to him, the doctor said that Mongoloid is a term used to describe babies with Down Syndrome. A kind of genetic disorder whereby an extra chromosome exists during the foetus' development. Among the characteristics of a Down Syndrome baby are slanted eyes, fat fingers, clubbed feet, a weak heart, simian crest on the palm and a protuding tongue. 

I remember when a close personal friend of mine who had a baby with Down Syndrome.  However, the baby did not live long due to the baby's heart condition. I recall times when this friend's Facebook status displayed her sadness remembering her loss not too long ago.

I too remember times when I asked myself what would I do, how would I react, if I am to be given a child with Down Syndrome. I can't say for sure but after some thought, I told myself that I should accept his special child with love and total acceptance as a gift from the Almighty God.

Now, let's get back to Jack's story. He brings me to a scene at the coast near Batu Maung in Penang. While sitting by himself on a rock, looking out to the horizon during a hot sunny day, watching the sampans dance with the tide and life seemed ordinary when his own world collapsed and nobody else seemed to care. Realising nothing much he could do and thoughts of ending all his despair came to being as the sea looked.. inviting..

..when suddenly, he heard a voice: "I'm sending you a special child to cherish in my name. For you to love with all your heart and teach her just the same. For she is not like other babies, nor will she ever be. You'll cry a million tears, but I promise when she smiles at you, the pain will dissapear. Love her just the same and take good care of her for me."

Coming out of shock and confusion, hearing a voice that was authoritative, yet peaceful and assuring, Jack gathered himself together and chose to be strong and face the future.

Fourteen years later, Elizabeth, Jack's special daughter attends a special school. Tall as Jack is, without heart defect or any major problems, she speaks a rojak of English, Malay and Cantonese, can dress herself, perform simple household tasks like washing dishes. She is as pretty as Jack says she is, as there is a picture insert of her wearing a Santa hat standing by a Christmas tree, in the four-columned, half page spread. And every time she smiles, all Jack's pain and anguish shall quickly disappear.

I myself had a personal little voice talking to me experience which I wrote about in my other blog, Kickboxing Jom! which is delivered in Malay.

To Jack, thank you for a heart-warming and inspiring story that you share with us Malaysians. I wish you, your beloved Elizabeth, and the rest of your family members a very merry Christmas this coming Friday. As a Silat Student, and a Muslim, I believe there is a lesson to be learnt here, of patience, courage, acceptance and LOVE.

Love, came to you in a form of a special child, Elizabeth. Love came to me too, maybe I'll see her tomorrow in Facebook.

Salam.

Picked Up My Weapons Again

Guru Ed was back in training last Wednesday night. So, it was time for me to pick up the Belati,  Sauh, Sakti Pencawangan and the Bokken again and start training weapons again after several nights of empty hands revisions.  So, that night we did eight Buahs and three Pecahans of Belati, eight Buahs of Sauh, and five Buahs of the Sakti Pencawangan.

My knee hurt a bit from a collision during a very light kickboxing sparring session earlier. Not that I am complaining but I felt a bit uneasy during my Silat training last night, especially when I was going for the low attacks. It was my left knee that collided, but my right knee felt strained too due to my shifting most of my body weight onto my right leg.

Hmm.. to ease the pain on the left knee, I allowed the right knee to suffer too. Reminds me of a Malay proverb, 'Cubit paha kanan, paha kiri terasa juga', which translates, 'Pinch the right thigh, the left thigh aches too'. What the proverb really means is 'If one cause hardship to one's own family member, one will only cause hardship to one's own self ultimately.

Well, the proverb and its meaning bear no relevance to the circumstances that I went through, but, the proverb itself, in relation to my mishap, do bear some degree of similarity.

 Salam.

Recollection of the Lost Buahs

Last Monday night training, it was down to two persons only who came. Nick al Yabani and me. Well, both of us trained the five empty hand striking Buahs that we had learnt previous nights. Nick, being a Japanese middle age guy, performed his silat very karate like, especially during the Sikap Pasang. Well, I think, its interesting to have some sort of variety. If its wrong to do it that way, Guru Jak would have madesome comments to correct it. So, i think its ok.

Before the end of the class, we were shown the Sixth. I forgot how this Buah looked like until everything came back slowly to me when I was at my parent's home last weekend. It was my personal favourite Buah when I was first introduced to all eight empty hand striking Buahs.  Maybe because this particular Buah looked like it can end a fight immediately after one is being attacked. Well, at that time, this looked like the fastest to end a fight. Now, with the slightly varied version I'm learning now, all the Buahs looked potentially effective to end a fight immediately.

It has been a while since my last weapons training, but its okay. I'm making the best out of it. I never want to lose the empty hands striking Buahs ever again.

Salam.

Sapuan in The Fifth

There were only three of us who came for Silat training last Wednesday night. Others couldn't make it because of personal commitments or perhaps the heavy rainfall earlier in the evening that made travelling  harder, especially for the ones who rely on public transports to get to the studio. Nick the middle-aged Japanese guy, Marcus the Filipino-Chinese fellow Malaysian and the Malay me, I. I have yet to find the correct usage of the word 'me' and 'I' eventhough it has been in my mind for quite some time.

So, that night we revised the Four empty-hands striking Buahs which we have learnt the previous nights. Nick too, like me on the previous class didn't realize that he has learnt more than one Buah. He thought he only learnt the First, and the other moves were Pecahans. Well, I was not the only one.

Later that night, we were introduced to the Fifth Buah by Guru Jak. One characteristic of this buah is, it employs the Sapuan or Leg Sweeping moves in it. Cool stuff when it works perfectly. Perfectly to me means, the opponent's head lands exactly right in front of you, after executing the leg sweep, so that you can follow it up with continous  devastating blows to the immediate target.

Guru Ed was not around again that night, so, I took the opportunity to fully concentrate on revising the Empty-hands Buahs that we have been taught. The leg sweeps need alot of practising especially.

Before we left, I was trying my best to recollect the sixth before the next class but to no avail, yet.

Salam

Putar Kepala in the Fourth

Guru Ed was away last night. So, no weapons training for me. I had a good time training empty hands striking Buahs, but, only last night that I realized that prior to this, we had learned 3 Buahs. How did I not notice that? I thought all we did was the First Buah and many Pecahans. I have to pay more attention to my Guru in class.

Last night, after spending most of the time revising the first three Buahs, Guru Jak showed us the Fourth. It's almost the same as what I had learnt before, only with a slight difference at the entry. The entry showed last night was a double eye jabs instead of just parrying a right cross and counter with a jab and a cross of your own against the opponent, which how how I had learnt before. Well, those double eye jabs are more economical, efficient and painful.

Then comes the Putar Kepala move. Guru Jak mentioned how Silat in the west widely adopts this move but he did mentioned how its implementation is flawed, based on his own many observations.

I think, the main thing that we have to pay attention is the opponent's ability to counter. Prior to the Putar Kepala, we must deliver blows to soften the opponent. During executions of the Putar Kepala, check for the opponent's ability to counter, and counter a counter if there should be one. Deliver more blows to weaken the opponent while you are at it.

After the Putar Kepala, bring the opponent down, but do not lose hold. Control  the opponent through joint manipulation. Then, Destroy.

Salam.

A Visit By The Brooklyn Monk

On August 3rd 2009, a martial arts traveller, writer and filmmaker Antonio Graceffo, also known as the Brooklyn Monk in Youtube.com where he has a webdocumentary series called Martial Arts Odyssey visited our Silat studio to conduct an interview with my teacher Guru Jak.  Our studio was one of the few martial arts schools that he stopped by, in his quest to gain some insights about martial arts in Malaysia.

The interview with Guru Jak on Silat is broken up into three parts.  Throughout the videos, Guru Jak explains about Silat Harimau Berantai and demonstrated some of the Silat weapons that are used by the Harimau Berantai clan.

Enjoy.

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:


Salam.

One Buah, Few Pecahans, Elbows and Blade Applications

Last Wednesday night, for the first time, our Silat training starts early at 9.00pm. Since Kickboxing starts half an hour earlier, I joined in for a bit of kicking, just to warm myself up. Surprisingly, I can still kick without running out of breath. Yes. It feels good to do kicking again, together with all the other kickboxers.

Again, we practise our striking Buah again tonight. The first of 8 striking Buah. Then, out of this first Buah, Guru Jak showed us some Pecahans.  Tonight, the Pecahans he showed has a lot of wicked elbow moves in them. Awesome!

After doing the Buah and Pecahans, Guru Jak then ask each of us to grab a rubber blade. He then showed us, how, with the same Buah or Pecahan, he applied them with a blade in his hand. How beautifully, wonderfully and smoothly they worked together.

I was happy, but the others were overjoyed, since they stayed back longer than me to practise their bladework.

Salam.

Empty Hands for Warm Up, and the Sakti Pencawangan Night

Last monday night, we had two more new students joining in our Silat class. Both of them are girls, one who has been with us in Kickboxing class and now going through apprenticeship to become a new instructor, while the other, i met for the first time as she flew in from Australia. The latter is a Kickboxing instructor in her home country and has some experience in Filipino Martial Arts.

We started our session with a warm up session doing the empty-hands combat Buahs. I'm so glad that I get to revise those Buahs again, together with the new guys.  This is my chance to recollect all the Buah that I have lost. Note to self, "Must Write Down". The unarmed combat Buah is slightly different from what I have learnt, but the gist is still the same. The approach is slightly closer to the moves that has been taught to Guru Ed. Parry the jab, cut the incoming cross with an immediate eye jab, destroy the arm by breaking the elbow, multiple blows to the body with hand and leg attacks, go behind the opponent, grab the balls, destroy, follow through with more attacks until he or she is rendered immobile. Well, that is to give some ideas on how some of the Buah looks like. I guess the keyword here is, Overkill. Don't settle with only one or two counters but with multiple blows. Besides the Buahs, we also get to do some Pecahans, which are combat moves derived from the main Buahs.

Then, Guru Ed and I do our usual drill with the Sakti Pencawangan. Last night Guru Jak briefed the new students about this weapon. He said Pencawangan means suggestions. Must be an old Malay word, because currently, the Malay word for suggestion is Cadangan. Then he explained to us that the tonfa-like part of the weapon, is not a Tonfa. He used a Thai traditional weapon  where the tonfa-like weapon has two handles, one to hold and the other one in front is to protect the fingers. A rope is attached around one end so that it stays still on the forearm.

Mai Sok. Image grabbed from http://www.tonyjaa.org/muaythai_ongbak.shtml

I looked up the Internet, and found that the said Thai weapon is called Mai Sok.  Well, last night, Guru Jak pulled a blade out of the modified Mai Sok.  Our traditional Malay weapon, or Javanese weapon to be more precised, he did mentioned Javanese, Sakti Pencawangan has one handle with the length of the main shaft extending slightly behind the elbow, with a concealed blade, that can be pulled out of it. From one or the other end, depending on where the owner of the weapon wants it, I guess.

That night, I could see that many of the new students were amazed. Me, personally, I still am.

Salam.